Samuel wesley smith



(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. W. SMITH.

TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER. No. 443,381. Patented Dec. 23,1890.

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(N0 Modem I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. S. W. SMITH. TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER.

No. 443,381. Patented Dec. 23.1890;

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A 770/?NE Y S 1 NORRIS PirERs co mm'o-Lmca, msumcn UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

SAMUEL "ESLEY SMITH, OF NEXV YORK, N. Y.

TELEGRAPH-TRANSMITTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,381, dated December23, 1890.

Application filed June 2, 1890.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMU L WEsLEY SMITH, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and Improved Telegraphic Transmitter,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in telegraphic transmitters; andthe object of my invention is to produce a device by means of whichtelegraphic messages may be transmitted with great speed and accuracyand with great ease to the operator.

To this end my invention consists of certain features of constructionand combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter described andclaimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a broken plan view of the device embodying my invention,showing the arrangement of keys for sending long and short characters.Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line a: a? of Fig. 1,showing the key-carriage and mechanism for sending a long character.Fig. 3 is a view of the same mechanism, but taken from the oppositeside. Fig. 4 is-a vertical transverse section on the line y y of Fig. 1,showing the key and mechanism for sending a short character, parts beingbroken away. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view showing the oppositeside of said mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detailed view in elevation showing adisk used in sending one of the longer characters, and Fig. 7 is adetailed view in elevation of a disk used in sending one of the shortercharacters.

The sending mechanism is mounted on a suitable base-plate A, said platehaving arranged in pairs and convenient distances apart the aligningvertical supports B, carrying horizontal shafts b and b. For sending thelonger characters the following mechanism is used: The shaft 5 hascentrally fixed thereon a disk 0, having projections o and c, varying inlength and adapted by means of the varying contact with the trailer totransmit dots and dashes. Mounted upon the shaft 1) at each side of thedisk 0 are the disks D, which are preferably made of hard rubber and theouter edges of which project slightly senn at. 354,007. (No model.)

beyond the outer circumference of the disk 0, thus allowing theprojections c' and c on the disk to project beyond the edges of therubber disks or plates D. Fixed upon the shaft 1) is a ratchet-wheel E,having one notch e in the outer edge thereof, and mounted loosely uponthe shaft adjacent to said ratchet wheel is a pinion F, having fixedthereto a projecting arm F, carrying at its outer end a pawl f, whichpresses upon the outer edge of the ratchet-wheel E and is adapted toengage the notch ethereof. The pawl f is held against the face ,of theratchet-wheel by the spring f which is fixed to the pawl and to the endof the arm f which projects from the opposite end of the arm F. It willthus be seen that the pawl and arm may be moved in one direction withoutactuating the ratchet-wheel and that when moved in the other directionthe pawl will engage the notch and turn the ratchet and the othermechanism on the shaftb.

A suitable brush or trailer G is mounted on a suitable support 9 on theplate A, so that the upper end of the said trailer will press upon theouter periphery of the disks D and will come in contact with theprojections on the disk 0. Said trailer is connected by a wire 9' withthe battery, and the disks are connected with a line-wire in the usualmanner, so that when the trailer comes in contact with the projectionson the disk the circuit will be closed and a character transmitted, theshort projections c sending dots and the longer projection c sending adash owing to the greater length of time it is in contact with thetrailer.

A wheel H is fixed eccentrically to the shaft 1), said wheel beingprovided on one side with a projecting pin h, adapted to engage thespring I and limit the movement of the wheel H and shaft 19, ashereinafter described. Fixed to the plate A opposite the wheel H is aspring H, which presses against the outer surface of the wheel toprevent the accelerating motion of the shaft 11, as described below.

Pivoted between'the vertical supports K is a carriage J, having aprojecting end J, extending beyond one side of the supports, and havingopposite the said end a segmental rack J which meshes with the pinion Fon the shaft b. The carriage J .is also provided with Too a projectingscrew-tln'eaded portion J, extending beyond the shaft Z) and carrying aweight L, said weight being adjusted thereon by means of the nut j. Alaterally-extend ing arm j is fixed to one side of the carriage .T, andthe outer end of the arm enters the bent portion of the spring I. Thespring I is mounted on the plate A opposite the pinwhcel ll. It isprovided with a cam-shapcd 1o portion 1' to engage the end of the arm j,is

doubled upon itself at the part 1?, and extends downwardly, terminatingin a bent end i adapted to engage the pin 71 of the pinwheel II, andthus prevent the wheel from 13 making more than one revolution.

Mounted on the base-plate A, so as to align with the supports K andcarriage J, are the supports 3f, carrying the horizontal strips M, whichvertically align and are provided with vertical perforations, as shownin Fig 2, said perforations being in vertical alignment with the outerend J of the carriageul. Mounted loosely in the perforations of thestrips M is a key-rod N of the key N, said key having a letter markedthereon, which is represented by the projections on the disk C.

It will be seen that to transmit the letter "j which is represented inthe Morse alphabet by a dash and three dots, and which is represented onthe disk C by a long projec tion 0 and three shorter projections c, itis necessary to give to the disk G a complete revolution, thus bringingthe trailer G successively in contact with the projection c and theprojections c, and-as said disk is connected with a line-wire in theusual manner the appropriate characters will be thereby transmitted. Torevolve the disk, the operator presses downward on the key N, thusdepressing the outer end J of the carriage J and raising the ack J",which movement turns the pinion F and the connected arm and pawlf, thepawl moving backwardly on the ratchet-wheel E without actuating thesame;

but when the carriage is oscillated the full length of itsstroke thepawl fis dropped into engagement with the notch c of the ratchetwheel,and the operator removes his hand from the key, thus permitting theweight I to drop.

This movement turnsthe pinion 1: in the opposite direction, causing thepawl f to turn the ratchctavheel E, and the motion is transmitted to theshaft (2 and to the disk (,1. If there were no provision for regulatingthe downward stroke of the rack, it will be seen that the speed would beaccelerated; but to obviate this diiiiculty the spring II is arrangedwith relation to the eccentric pinwheel ll, so that the pressure uponthe wheel will be increased as the weight I. descends, thereby causingan even motion of the shaft 1) and the parts fixed thereto.

To send aletter, as F,",which is represented by a dot, a disk (1', whichis similar to the 6;, disk C, is used, said disk being provided with aseries of short projections 0 and as said letter is represented by asingle dot it: is not necessary to give to the disk an entirerevolution, as it is only necessary to bring one of the said projectionsin contact with thetrailer to transmit the character. This disk 0' isfixed to a shaft b, arranged in supports 13, adjacent to the othercharacter Y, although it maybe arranged in any desired position on theplate A. The disk C has the insulating plate or disk D of each sidethereof, said. disks being arranged, as described above, so that theprojections a will extend beyond the outer edges of thedisks and thebody of the disk I will be inclosed by the insulating-disks. The shaft71 provided with a ratchet-wheel E, similar to the ratchet-wheel E,except that it has a series of notches c therein. A pinion F is mountedlooselyon the shaft, said pinion being similar to the pinion I alreadydescribed, and having fixed thereto an arm F provided at its outer endwith a spring-pressed pawl f, adapted to engage the notches of theratchet-wheel. It is only necessary to turn the ratchet-wheel far enoughto bring one of the projections c in contact; with the trailer G.Consequently the shaft h is provided with an eccentriepin-whcel II,similar to the wheel. ll, already described, except that it is providedwith as many pins 7r as there are notches on the ratchet-wheel E, sothat; the spring I will engage the pins successively and limit themovement of the wheel, the shaft 1), the ratchet-wheel E, and disk 0.The spring I is similar to the spring I, already described, except thatit is shorter, it having the same cam-like projections i, the doubledportion 2', and the bent terminal end 1?, adapted to engage the pins 7Lof the pin-wheel. A carriage J similar to the carriage J, alreadydescribed, is pivoted in supports K, so as to align with the pinion F,said carriage having the same projecting terminal end J, a similar rackJ and being operated by the weight 'L and the keys N, in the mannerdescribed. 7

To transmit the letter E, the E-key N is depressed, thus tilting thecarriage J and arising the pinion F, ratchetwvheel E, shaft 1), and disk0 to revolve, bringing the trailer G in contact with one of theprojections c and sending the character over the line-Wire. When therack J on the carriage J or J is raised, the arm j comes in contact withthe cam portion i of the spring I, thus forcing the inner end i? fromengagement with the pin h or ii and allowing the pin-wheel ll. or II toturn, and when the rack moves downward the same movement will takeplace; but when the arm j passes the cam portion 1' the spring I willmove inwardly, and the end 11 will ongage the pin 71 or it, thuslimiting the movement of the pin-wheel and shaft and the character-disk,as described, and as the wheel II is provided with a series of pins 71,the spring I will engage each pin successively and allow the wheel toturn only far enough to bring one of theprojections 0 in contact withthe trailer G. Consequentlyif double E is to be sent the E-key of theinstrument must be twice depressed.

I have shown only the E and V keys of the device; but it is obvious thatany number may be arranged upon the plate A and that by the ratchetwheel arrangement described above the character-disks may be given awhole revolution by each movement of the key or any part of arevolution, the motion being limited and regulated by the mechanismabove described. It is obvious that this mechanism may be adapted to anycode of signals.

The above-described transmitter may be operated very rapidly by anyperson who can read the letters on the keys, it only being necessary todepress a key to transmit a letter, and as the movement of the sendingmechanism is regulated by the downward movements of the weights it willbe seen that the motion of the character-disks will be steady, so thatthe messages may be transmittedvery accurately and with great rapidity.It will also be observed that each key and the mechanism connectedtherewith comprises a transmitter in itself, as it works independentlyfrom all the other keys and mechanism.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent 1. A telegraphic transmitter having a series ofvertically-moving keys, oscillating carriages having one end beneath thekeys and the other provided with a weight, said carriages havingsegmental racks, as shown, shafts mounted in suitable supports, saidshafts carrying disks having proj ections thereon corresponding to thecharacters to be transmitted, means for closing the circuit through saidprojections, ratchet-wheels fixed to the shafts adjacent to the disks,and pinions mounted loosely upon the shafts so as to mesh with thecarriage-racks, said pinions being provided with a pawl to operate theratchetwheels, substantially as described.

2. A telegraphic transmitter consisting, essentially, of a series ofindependent electrically-connected shafts, each carrying a disk havingcontact projections thereon adapted to transmit characters, asdescribedg' insulating-disks mounted on each side of the char--acter-disk so as to extend beyond the body of the same, a trailerelectrically connected and pressing upon the insulated disks so as toengage the projections of the characterdisk and close the circuit, aratchet-wheel fixed to the shaft, a pinion carrying an arm having at theend a spring-pressed pawl to engage the ratchet-wheel, an oscillatingcarriage having a rack to engage the pinion of the shafts and having aweight at one end thereof, and a key mounted above the carriage andadapted to move the same in opposition to the weight, substantially asdescribed.

3. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination, with anelectrically-connected shaft mounted in suitable supports, a disk fixedto the shaft andhaving contact projections on the edge thereof,insulating-disks mounted on each side the contact-disk so as to extendbeyond the body of the same, a ratchet-wheel fixed to the shaft, apinion loosely mounted on the shaft and provided with a springpressedpawl to engage the ratchet-wheel, an eccentric-wheel fixed to the shaft,and a spring mounted on a support so as to press against theeccentric-wheel and govern the movement of the shaft, of an oscillatingcarriage pivoted in a support, said earriagehaving a rack to engage thepinion of the shaft, aweighted end to hold it in a depressed position,and a let er-like extension, as shown, and a key mounted above theextension of the carriage so as to engage the same and move thecarriage, substantially as described.

4. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combi nation, with a revolubleelectrically-connected shaft carrying a character-disk, and a pinion andratchet-wheel mechanism, as shown, of a pin-wheel fixed to the shaft, astop mounted upon a support and adapted to engage the pin-wheel andlimit the movement of the shaft, an oscillating carriage having a rackmeshing with the pinion to turn the shaft, and a laterally-extending armfixed t0 the carriage and adapted to engage the springstop andautomatically release it from engagement with the pin-wheel,substantially as described.

5. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination, with an electricallyeonneeted revoluble shaft having sending mechanism thereon adapted to beoperated by the movement 'of the shaft, of an eccentric-wheel fixed tothe shaft and a spring mounted upon a support, so as to press againstthe wheel and regulate the movement of the shaft, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a telegraplrtransmitter of the character described, thecombination, with the revoluble shaft carrying sending mechanism andprovided with a pin-wheel, and the carriage geared to the shaft, of aspring-stop mounted on a support and provided with a projecting end toengage the pin-wheel, and an arm fixed to the carriage-and adapted tostrike and release the stop, substantially as described.

7. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination, with an oscillatingcarriage provided with a segmental rack, of a shaft carrying a diskhaving projections, a ratchet-wheel on the shaft, a pinion looselymounted on the shaft and carrying a pawl, and means for regulating therevoluble movement of the shaft, substantially as described.

8. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination, with a Weightedoscillating carriage provided with a segmental rack, of a shaft carryinga disk having projections, a ratchetwheel on the shaft, a pinion looselymounted on the shaft and carrying a pawl, and means for regulating therevoluble movementof the shaft, substantially as described.

9. In a telegraphic transmitter, the combination, with a weightedoscillating carriage provided with a segmental rack, of a shaft carryinga disk having projections, a ratchetwheel on the shaft, a pinionlooselymounted on the shaft and carrying a pawl, means for regulatingthe revolnble movement of the [O shaft, and a trailer bearing on thedisk, substantially as shown and described.

SAMUEL \VESLEY' SMITH. ii'itnesses:

WARREN I). lin'rcnmsox, E. M. m BK.

